‘Battle of the Bands’ competitions have regularly served as a launching pad for upcoming bands, including a number of the established names on the Maltese music scene.

Starting next on February 11, a new competition organised by the Beer House, local agents for Bavaria Premium Beer, will kick off with the first competing bands taking the stage at V-Gen in Paceville.

Registration for the competition is still open with a full list of terms, conditions and prizes available on the event page on Facebook. The competition is based on two rounds; a qualifying round that will determine which band goes through, and the final, which determines the outright winner.

Instead of a selected jury, voting will be in the hands of the audience, based on a system of tokens given out when particular products are purchased at the bar.

Further to the competing Maltese acts, each qualifying round will feature a special foreign guest act. The first of these will be the widely acclaimed Children of the Damned, an official Iron Maiden tribute band as well as a regular backing band for Maiden’s former vocalist Paul Di’Anno. They will perform on February 11.

The second leg will take place on March 3, with The Doors Alive tribute band performing.

For more details look up the event page on Facebook or e-mail venompro@maltanet.net.